Portulaca plant named ‘DPORPZNORG’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘DPORPZNORG’ is disclosed, characterized by large, dark orange flowers with yellow centers. Plants are dense, with a compact habit, and long blooming period. The new variety is a Portulaca, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Portulaca oleraea.

Variety denomination: ‘DPORPZNORG’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Portulaca cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor, Gavirel Danziger, at a commercial greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Portulaca varieties. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during October of 2014.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Portulaca ‘PT-14-1152’. The pollen parent is unknown. The new variety was discovered in June of 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the open pollination, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Date of first sale was Nov. 5, 2017, in Hungary. This sale was made directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed invention directly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all public disclosures made between Apr. 1, 2018 and the filing of this application fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ was first performed by terminal vegetative cuttings during August of 2015, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DPORPZNORG’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DPORPZNORG’ as a new and distinct Portulaca cultivar:

-   1. Dense and compact plant habit. -   2. Large dark orange flower with a yellow eye/center. -   3. Long blooming period—from Spring to Autumn. -   4. Freely branching habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ differ in the following;

-   1. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has a very compact and dense habit compared to     ‘PT-14-1152’. -   2. ‘DPORPZNORG’ is open and flat. ‘PT-14-1152’ is conic     (funnel-shaped). -   3. ‘DPORPZNORG’ flowers are larger than flowers of ‘PT-14-1152’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ can be compared to the commercial variety Portulaca ‘DPAZORFLAR’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,314. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DPORPZNORG’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has a more compact and dense habit than     ‘DPAZORFLAR’. -   2. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has larger flowers than ‘DPAZORFLAR’. -   3. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has larger foliage than ‘DPAZORFLAR’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORPZNORG’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Portulaca ‘DPAZSALMGL’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DPORPZNORG’ differs in the following:

-   1. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has dark orange flower with yellow eye/center     whereas ‘DPAZSALMGL’ has a lighter orange flower with a yellow     eye/center. -   2. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has a more compact and dense habit compared to     ‘DPAZSALMGL’. -   3. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has larger flowers than ‘DPAZSALMGL’. -   4. ‘DPORPZNORG’ has darker foliage than ‘DPAZSALMGL’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DPORPZNORG’ grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, in a 20 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 20 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage and flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DPORPZNORG’ plants grown in greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during August of 2015. The plants were approximately 6 weeks from a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 24° C. to 38° C. during the days, 14° C. to 26° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Portulaca ‘DPORPZNORG’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 7 to 10 days at approximately 24° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, fine, close to RHS Yellow-White 158C in     color, freely branching.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, semi-upright. -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Height: Approximately 15 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 21 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: -   Length of primary lateral branches: About 19 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: About 0.5 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 10-11 per 1 main stem. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Glabrous.         -   Diameter.—About 0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Close to RHS Yellow-Green 144A and Greyed-Purple             183C.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong. -   Internode length: When close to the base: 1.5-2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Mostly opposite, simple.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 per branch.         -   Average length.—3.5 cm (young) and 4.2 cm (mature).         -   Average width.—1.8-2.6 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Obovate, spatulate.         -   Apex.—Blunt (truncate).         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Glabrous, succulent.         -   Aspect.—About 70°.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Close to RHS Green 138A.             Young foliage under side: Close to RHS Green 138B. Mature             foliage upper side: Close to RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage             under side: Close to RHS Green 138B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color, upper side: Close to RHS             Yellow-Green 149D. Color, under side: Close to RHS             Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.8 mm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm.             Color: Close to RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring to Summer. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 4 weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single flower, freely     flowering habit. -   Rate of flower opening: 3 to 4 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 1 to 2 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Length.—1 to 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.65 cm.         -   Color.—Close to RHS Yellow-Green 144. Tip close to RHS             Red-Purple 61B. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—4.5 cm.         -   Height.—1.8 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—5 petals fused at the base.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Width.—1.9 cm.         -   Quantity.—5 petals.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Apex.—Emarginate, retuse.         -   Shape.—Obovate with cuneate base.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Close to RHS Orange-Red             33B, macule color close to RHS Yellow-Orange 14A. Lower             surface: Edges close to RHS Orange N25A, base close to RHS             Yellow 13A. Fully opened: Upper surface: Close to RHS             Orange-Red 33A, inner base close to RHS Yellow-Orange 14A.             Lower surface: Edges close to RHS Orange N25A, base close to             Yellow 13A. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—2 sepals per flower.         -   Shape.—Fused into a tubular calyx. Individual sepals             deltate.         -   Length.—0.8 cm.         -   Width.—0.65 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Lower Surface:             RHS Yellow-Green 144C. -   Peduncle: None. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 50.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Length.—Less than 0.5 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 17B.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow-Orange 17A. Quantity: Abundant. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1 per flower.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 7A.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 6 branched stigmas. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Orange 17B. Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Fruits are egg-shaped 4 mm long with a conical     shape top. Seeds are dark grey with a circular shape. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility     observed. Portulaca is not typically susceptible to many diseases     and pests. The most common diseases being typical root rots from     over watering, or black stem, Dichotomophthora portulaca. The most     common pest of Portulaca is Aphid. -   Temperature tolerance: Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C.     High temperature tolerance near 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘DPORPZNORG’ as herein illustrated and described. 